Which Government Backed Home Loan Is Best Suited For Purchasing My New Home? If you want a loan with a No Money Down Option then you must be a veteran or you must purchase a home in a HUD Approved Area for Rural Housing. The VA and USDA Loan are the only type loans that offer the No Down Payment Option for buying a home. The FHA loan is the most popular type loan at this time because the down payment requirement is only 3.5% compared to the Conventional Loans which require 5% down. Both require the added cost of Mortgage Insurance any time less than 20% down is used. The VA and USDA Loans do not require mortgage Insurance but have a funding fee that is financed into the loan. The USDA funding fee is currently 3.5% but expected to rise with the growing number of defaults. The VA fundin... 07/25/2011

  Ballantrae, Sarasota, Florida Ballantrae villa condominiums rarely come up for sale, and because of it, very few people know of them. Located just steps from the Sarasota Square Mall, you would think this would be busy complex. Quite the opposite is true, this is a quiet and meandering community which is often overlooked by buyers of Sarasota real estate.   The plus side of Ballantrae includes the peacefulness of its streets, the beautiful lakes and preserves, and the sheer size of the villas themselves, nearly 2000 square feet, most with a unique atrium layout that makes rooms feel even larger and 2 car garages. Pets are welcomed and renting is allowed. Although not a 55+ community, the overall demographic seems to be older.   The location is also key. The aforementioned mall of cour... 05/14/2010